It was a “grinder” with both teams struggling to get the ball into the basket. The No. 8 state-ranked Spring Grove boys claimed a 27th consecutive win over next-door neighbor Mabel-Canton, 49-34, on Feb. 20, but there was little similarity to the Lions’ 49-point road rout (85-36) in mid-January. The Grove guys improved to 23-1 (18-0 SEC) while the Cougars left at 10-15 (7-12 SEC).
Photo by Lee Epps
This rematch was the lowest-scoring game between these two teams in 17 years, since a 39-34 Lion win in 2006. After shooting a then season-best 55% on the Cougars’ home court in January, the Lions shot a season-worst 29% on their own home floor, including a season-low 32% with 2-point attempts. Likewise, Mabel-Canton went from 47% in that January game to 27% in the rematch.
No Lion opponent relied as greatly on 3-point shots as did the Cougars, who launched 31 attempts from beyond the arc and only 17 shots closer in. Both teams shot a chilly 23% from afar – SG 5 for 22, M-C 7 for 31. With little penetration, the Cougars earned only two free throws. The Lions were able to penetrate with the dribble for 15 points and outscore the visitors by 15 points in the paint during a 15-point win.
For Spring Grove, Elijah Solum scored 13 points and rebounded 7 times while Jaxon Strinmoen had 11 points and a team-high 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Tysen Grinde helped with 8 points, 7 boards and a game-best 4 steals.
Cougar guard Cayden Tollefsrud had a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Tyler Larson (3 treys) added 9 points and Isaac Underbakke 8.
The final 15-point margin was the greatest of the night as Spring Grove sank 6 of 8 late free throws. There were five early lead changes before the Lions left for the halftime locker room with a scant 22-20 lead. (They had led 45-21 back in January). The Grove guys scored the first nine points of the second half (SG 31, M-C 20), and the Cougars never caught up again. But the Lions could never secure a commanding lead with the margin staying between seven and 12 points. It was a nine-point spread (43-34) when Spring Grove went into a delay offense with 3:40 remaining. The Lions scored the game’s final six points at the free throw line when Mabel-Canton was forced to foul.
The Lion B-team used a strong second half to complete a season sweep, 55-28, as did the eighth grade Lions, 38-24. The Cougar seventh grade team salvaged a season split, defeating Spring Grove, 41-29.
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SG 49, M-C 34
SCORE by HALVES
SG 22+27=49
M-C 20+14=34
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 29% (16-56), M-C 27% (13-48)
2-pt FG: SG 32% (11-34), M-C 35% (6-17)
3-pt FG: SG 23% (5-22), M-C 23% (7-31)
Free throws: SG 75% (12-16), M-C 50% (1-2); Rebounds: SG 37, M-C 25; Turnovers: SG 11, M-C 19; 2nd Chance pts: SG 13, M-C 4; Fast break pts: SG 5, M-C 7; Pts. in paint: SG 28, M-C 13; Greatest lead: SG 15, M-C 3; Fouls: SG 10, M-C 15
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin 7P, 4R, 1S; *Tysen Grinde 8P, 7R, 1A, 4S; Hunter Holland no stats; *Ethan Crouch 4P, 5R, 1S; Logan Brumm no stats; Jacob Olerud 6P, 6R, 2A, 1S; *Jaxon Strinmoen 11P, 8R, 3A, 2S; *Elijah Solum 13P, 7R, 1A, 1S, 2B
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Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2023
* SEC game, home games in bold
23 wins, 1 loss (18-0 SEC)
W at Lanesboro* 71-52
W at Glenville-Emmons* 75-27
L vs. Dawson-Boyd 57-66
W vs. Higher Ground Academy 83-39
W at Southland* 57-33
W vs. Mankato Loyola 61-54
W at Grand Meadow 64-27
W at Mabel-Canton*85-36
W at Schaeffer Academy* 69-37
W vs. Houston*67-21
W vs. Lanesboro*60-46
W at Kingsland*72-37
W vs. La Crescent-Hokah 66-63
W vs. Schaeffer Academy*65-35
W vs. LeRoy-Ostrander* 81-27
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 93-24
W vs. Glenville-Emmons*72-31
W at Lyle/Pacelli*46-40
W vs. Fillmore Central 69-65
W vs Southland*47-42 OT
W vs. Rushford-Peterson 56-45
W vs. Kingsland*59-23
W vs. Grand Meadow*64-24
W vs. Mabel-Canton*49-34
Fri. 02-24 at Houston*
Sat. 02-25 Lyle/Pacelli (approx. 5:15 p.m.)
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Spring Grove B-team
16 wins, 5 losses
W at Lanesboro 45-20
W at Glenville-Emmons 53-31
W vs. Dawson-Boyd 34-30
W vs. Higher Ground Academy 52-13
L at Southland 35-47
W vs. Loyola 46-23
W at Mabel-Canton 45-9
Wat Schaeffer Academy 61-25
W vs. Houston 52-19
W vs. Lanesboro 35-24
L at Kingsland 41-44
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 30-31
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 49-25
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 54-18
W vs. Glenville-Emmons 57-36
W at Lyle/Pacelli 26-24
W vs. Fillmore Central 46-38
L vs. Southland 27-36
L vs. Rushford-Peterson 42-46
W vs. Kingsland 53-28
W vs. Mabel-Canton 55-28
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Spring Grove 8th Grade
10 wins, 8 losses
W at Lanesboro 48-24
L at Caledonia 29-37
L at Southland 41-55
W at Grand Meadow 48-14
W at Mabel-Canton 53-30
W at Schaeffer Academy 41-31
W vs. Houston 49-18
L vs. Kingsland 12-43
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 31-50
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 38-26
L vs. Fillmore Central 15-42
L vs. Southland 42-54
L vs. Caledonia 32-42
W vs. Rushford-Peterson 38-28
W vs. Lanesboro 44-22
L vs. Kingsland 29-41
W vs. Grand Meadow 49-13
W vs. Mabel-Canton 38-24
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Spring Grove 7th Grade
9 wins, 7 losses
at Lanesboro
L a Caledonia 23-26
W at Southland 29-26
W at Mabel-Canton 36-32
W at Schaeffer Academy 31-15
W vs. Houston 38-21
W vs. Kingsland 25-20
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 20-27
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 26-13
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 23-21
L vs. Fillmore Central 34-39
W vs. Southland 34-18
L vs. Caledonia 26-31
L vs. Rushford-Peterson 19-30
L vs. Lanesboro 28-40
W vs. Kingsland 32-25
L vs. Mabel-Canton 29-41
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